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Teignbridge Council’s executive committee met on Tuesday morning as scheduled, and Cllr Jeremy Christophers, leader of Teignbridge District Council, told the meeting: “We are in a difficult position this morning and I am sure that all of us in the chamber here are aware of the emerging story concerning Cllr Hellier Laing.

"I can't comment any further as up until about 30-minutes ago we didn't know anything about the matter, so we will just leave it at that.

"I am not in a position to say anymore."

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Afterwards, Cllr Christophers added to DevonLive.com: “We are in shock really about this news and in time we will know more about what happened. There is not much more than that I can say at this stage.”

Cllr Jeremy Christophers

On his role as a member of the executive and as a councillor, Cllr Christophers said: “It is too early to say what the process will be as this is not something that you expect to have deal with.”

He added that other councillors will be picking up the work that he has been doing until they know more.

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Despite the attempted murder charge, Doug Hellier Laing will remain a councillor until either he is convicted of the charge or he fails to attend any meetings for six months, upon which he will automatically cease to be a councillor unless the council had approved your reason for absence before the end of the six month period.

Sue Aggett, Business Lead for Teignbridge District Council, said: “We are unable to comment any further at this stage.”

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Doug Hellier Laing, who also sits on Chudleigh town council, was first elected to Teignbridge Council to represent the Chudleigh ward in 2015, when he was also named as the new economy, skills and tourism portfolio holder.

Police were notified on Sunday, October 29, to reports of a concern of welfare of a woman at a property on Clifford Street.